[Via... http://www.egroups.com/group/Communist-Internet ] . . ----- Original Message ----- From: Downwithcapitalism <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Friday, May 18, 2001 6:09 PM Subject: [downwithcapitalism] FW: Labor confronts Berlusconi Reuters. 18 May 2001. Striking Workers Challenge Incoming Berlusconi. Excerpts. ROME Italy's incoming prime minister Silvio Berlusconi on Friday got a foretaste of the problems he is likely to face in office when thousands of workers took to the streets over pay. As the media tycoon, whose center-right alliance swept comfortably to victory in a general election last Sunday, met advisers to work out his cabinet, an estimated 65,000 workers marched through several cities. Members of metalworkers' unions, Italy's largest with 1.5 million cardholders, staged a half-day strike and held rallies in Turin, Milan, Florence, Perugia and Bologna demanding wage rises in their current round of negotiations with employers. Turin, home of leading Italian carmaker Fiat, was paralyzed as two columns of workers paraded through the center carrying banners calling on Berlusconi to meet their demands. "Comrade Berlusconi -- we've done our part, now you sign the contract," one banner read. During the election campaign Berlusconi promised a contract with Italy and said he would be the workers' prime minister. As part of the contract, he pledged to cut $30 billion of taxes and create 1.5 million new jobs over five years. "Berlusconi -- we want a contract with the bosses," read another banner. The protests, to be followed by another eight hours of strikes later in May, were called before the election. With the positions of employers and workers far apart, negotiations are expected to drag on for months, with the threat of labor unrest hanging over them. Berlusconi is not new to such a problem. During his first time in office in 1994, more than three million people took to the streets to protest against planned pension reforms. His government fell after seven months. Berlusconi, who has an estimated $11 billion of assets spread among television, publishing, sports and financial services, has said he will confront the [the conflict between his political power and business interests] during the first 100 days of his administration. Once sworn in, Berlusconi's government will effectively control the three RAI state television channels while his family holding company Fininvest owns 48 percent of Mediaset, which runs the country's three main private terrestrial channels. Between them, RAI and Mediaset draw over 90 percent of Italy's viewing public and account for 95 percent of television advertising revenue. SPAM TO FOLLOW Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
